Chemotherapy as an alternative to radiotherapy in the treatment of stage IIA and IIB testicular seminoma: a Spanish Germ Cell Cancer Group Study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the long-term efficacy and toxicity of front-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with stage IIA or IIB testicular seminoma.


METHODS
Untreated patients with pure seminoma of the testis after orchiectomy, with clinical stage IIA or IIB, were considered eligible for this prospective observational study. Chemotherapy consisted of either four cycles of cisplatin and etoposide or three cycles of cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin.


RESULTS
Between April 1994 and March 2003, 72 patients were entered onto the study at 26 participating centers. Eighteen patients had stage IIA disease, and 54 patients had stage IIB disease. Eighty-three percent of patients achieved complete response, and 17% achieved partial response with residual mass. After a median follow-up time of 71.5 months, six patients with stage IIB disease experienced relapse, and one of these patients died as a result of seminoma. Three patients experienced non-seminoma-related deaths (two died from a further esophageal carcinoma, and one died from an upper digestive hemorrhage). The estimated 5-year progression-free survival rates for patients with stage IIA or IIB disease were 100% and 87% (95% CI, 77.5% to 97%), respectively. Five-year progression-free and overall survival rates for the whole group were 90% (95% CI, 82% to 98%) and 95% (95% CI, 89% to 100%), respectively. Severe granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in eight and two patients, respectively. Mild to moderate emesis, stomatitis, and diarrhea were the most common nonhematologic effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Chemotherapy is a highly effective and well-tolerated treatment for patients with stage IIA or IIB seminoma and represents an available alternative that could avoid some of the serious late effects associated with radiotherapy. Further studies focusing on long-term toxicities of different treatment modalities are needed.
Garcia-del-Muro
Xavier
X
Genitourinary Tumors and Sarcoma Unit, Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Català d'Oncologia L'Hospitalet, Barcelona, Spain. garciadelmuro@iconcologia.net
Maroto
Pablo
P
Gumà
Josep
J
Sastre
Javier
J
López Brea
Marta
M
Arranz
José A
JA
Lainez
Nuria
N
Soto de Prado
Diego
D
Aparicio
Jorge
J
Piulats
José M
JM
Pérez
Xavier
X
Germá-Lluch
Josep R
JR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018239:Seminoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
D001761:Bleomycin; D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin